Electrochemical process of producing nitrogen compounds.



PATENTED JULY 17,-1906.

, J.'W. WOOD. ELECTROCHEMICAL PROCESS OF PRODUCING NITROGEN COMPOUNDS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21. 1902.

WITNESSES:

x/ wyza Muz -a wx A TTOBNE rs "untrue srarns JOHN VVINFIELD WOOD, OF MOULTON, IO'WA..

ELECTROCHEMICAL PROCESS OF PRODUCiNG NITROGEN CGMPOUNDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

latented July 17, 1905.

Application filed February 21, 19 82 Serial No; 95,072.

To all whom it may concern:

WOOD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Moulton, in the county of Appanooseand State of Iowa, have invented a new and Improved Electrochemical Processfor Producing Nitrogen Compounds, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an electrochemical process for producingnitrogen compounds.

The invention consists in the novel steps of the process, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompany-- 'ing drawing; forming'a part of this specificaan aerating device and a siphon.

The electrolytic tank 1 is provided with a distributing-nozzleZ, connecting with a blower or equivalent device 3 for the purpose of forcing air-bubbles through the electrolytic fluid. The cathode is shown at 4 and the anode at 5, the same being supported upon their respective. edestals 6 and 7 and connected, by means 0 insulated wires 8 and 9, with the dynamo 14. The siphon 10 is provided with a horn-shaped end 11, disposed lmmediately over the anode and with ahandvalve 12. Thereceptacle 13isfor the purpose of storing the nitrogen compounds formed when the same assume a liquid form. When said compounds assume a gaseousjorm, however, they may be pumped off by attaching a hose to the siphon 10. If desired, an additional siphon 15 may be placed over the cathode for the urpose of drawing off any compounds which may be formed adjacent to the same. The electrolytic liquid is shown at 16, and the air-bubbles passing through the same are shown at 17. The additional siphon 15 isindicated by dotted lines.

While a solution of nitrogen in water or in acids is normall quite inert, this condition is changed when tile'liquid is subjected to cloctrolytic action-that is to say, the passage of the current through the liquid appears to confer peculiar properties upon the nitrogen whereby it is: rendered comparatively enerp 1 get i and capable of forming compounds mot 5 5 Be it known that 1, JOHN WIniInLn formed in the absence of the current.

-' Theoperation of my device is as follows:

An electrolytic liquid 16, consisting, preferably, of an aqueous solution of nitric acid or sulfuric acid, is poured into the vessel and a current from the dynamo 14 is sent through the solution in the manner usual to an elec- The air-bubbles 17, which trolytic rocess. are pro need by forcing air under ressure through the li uid, serve to aerate t e same thoroughly an in that manner to charge it with more or less nitro en. As the current flows through the liqui the liquid is decomposed, oxygen is liberated at the anode, and hydrogen at'the cathode. the oxygen thus li erated-unites with the nitrogen present, forming nitric acid, (HNO Q while the hy-v drogen disengaged similarly unites with theplenished by the nitrogen of the air as said air passes in the form of bubbles upward through the liquid. A comparatively minute quantity of nitric acid may be used at the start,,.the air furnishing all of the nitrogen afterward needed.

' The am erage-aml voltage of the current used may 0 varied within considerable limits, and the apparatus will work at any ordinary temperature 1 find that ordinary water rmtsoiuibly nil :trmperature of 86 Fahrenheit 1s suitahhfor the purpose and that the use of an acid is not strictly necessary. if the use of an acid be desired, a small quantity will suilice.

The nitrogen com )ounds thus formed are useful for the nuuiui acture of fertilizers and for various other purposes.

In em loying this process various potentials and amperages may be employed, depending upon the sizes of the plates and containing vessel and the distances apart of the The result is therefore 75.

plate, .(Jnr- Vol; and a current strength of one-'. earn (it an ampere are suthcient for producing the crnnpounds upon a small scale. When, however, the process is used upon a large scale the amperage may be greatly increased though in general the voltage should not he very high. All that is absolutely necessary is that the electromotive force must be greater than any counter-electro force of the electrolyte, By varying the space separating tne electrodes and by varying the areas ol 1 lu elect i'or'lcs thcprocess can be perform ed Necessl'nlly' with almost any number of volts nnd anrpcrcs.

'lhe device is simple and eflicient, and its r rl'ltt'lilllOll is very cheap, owing-to the fact llltll thcnir used in maintaining the quantity ol nitrogen in the liquid costs nothing.

1n ti 1c rryi ng on t of the process the chemical :ltt \'il oi the nitrogen 1s greatly inerease l by the passage of tne electric current through the solution, wnile the forcing of air 'rndcr pressure through the solution renders 1hr; solution mechanically active, both of nien tend to the completeness and effectiveness ol the process, besides resulting in the more rapid production of the compounds of ,introgr n.

llaving thus described. my invention, I laim as new and desire to secure by Letters lntellt i 1. An olectrochcrnical process for making nitrogen (:olnpoul'lds, which consists in continnrnisly charging a liquid electrolyte with arr under pressure, to furnish it with an ex cess of nitrogen, and subjecting the liquid to the action of an electric current to dissociate,

the solution, and removing the nitrogen and other compounds thus formed.

'3. An electrochemical process for maliing nitrogen compounds, which consists in cansing a liquid electrolyteto continuously absorb gaseous nitrogen, sending an electric current through the electrolyte at ordinary temperatures, for the purpose of dissociating the liquid and liberating the products of electrolysis, and finally carrying off the nitrogenous compounds.

4. An electrochemical process for making nitrogen compounds, which consists in continuously charging water with air under pressure, to provide it with an excess of nitrogen,

sending an electric current through the water,

to dissociate the Water and liberate the nitrogen and other products, and finally carrying oil at the anode and cathode, respectively, the nitrogen and other compounds formed. In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN WVINFI ELD WOOD. Witnesses W. G. WARD, A. SWIFT. 

